Spring Flooding

4/16/2019 (Permalink)

Spring Snow Melt Causes High Rivers and Flooding in Utah

It’s been a winter of extremes.  While November and December didn’t yield much snow pack, January, February, and March delivered between 200 to 300 percent of average and April has been following suit.  What will follow is anyone’s guess, will April warm up quick or will it stay cool.  Either way Utah is bound for flooding from St. George to Moab, up to Logan and everywhere in between.

Many homes are at risk for flash flooding if the weather warms up fast.  Utah also experienced an active fire season last year which as created many burn scar areas.  Experts are expecting to fill most of our reservoirs and as always to have full, quick, powerful rivers which can lead to dangerous situations and flooding.

 Around twenty percent of flood insurance claims occur in moderate-to-low-risk zones. Kathy Holder of the national flood insurance coordinator for Utah, said only about 4,000 households have flood insurance.  This is alarming because even areas that are not in high risk areas are at risk.  In an article posted by www.ready.gov  by FEMA is states “Everyone is at risk for flooding, yet most remain unprotected. Just a few inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Between 2006-2010 the average flood claim was nearly $34,000. That’s more than many survivors can afford to pay out of pocket for damages due to flooding, and without flood insurance, many must cover the cost to repair or rebuild on their own. 

 Follow these tips from FEMA to prepare and reduce your risk.

BE FLOODSMART – REDUCE YOUR RISK

A flood does not have to be a catastrophic event to bring high out-of-pocket costs, and you don’t have to live in a high-risk flood area to suffer

• The time to prepare is now. Visit ready.gov/floods for more on family preparedness for flood and other emergencies. There are a number of steps individuals and families can take to better prepare themselves for flooding and reduce their risks. Remember to have a family evacuation plan, put an emergency kit together, and keep important papers and valuables in a safe, dry place. Gather supplies in case of a storm, strengthen your home against damage, and review your insurance coverages.
• Only flood insurance covers flood damage. Most standard homeowners’ policies do not cover flood damage. Remember: it typically takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to go into effect, so get your policy now. Flood insurance is also affordable. An average flood policy costs around $600 a year, and rates start at just $129 a year for homes in moderate-to-low-risk areas.

Visit floodsmart.gov (or call 1-800-427-2419) to learn more about individual flood risk, explore coverage options, and to find an agent in your area

If you experience damage from flooding call SERVPRO of North Utah County as soon as possible and let us help you minimize the damage and cleanup.  We will make it “Like it never even happened."

801-785-5228